I didn’t know what to expect from a movie about picking a new pope, I wasn’t sure it was going to be that exciting but for sure it was a guarantee that divided opinions will be everywhere since its telling a story related to religion on its own commercial way. I was wrong about it been boring, the cast for this movie was incredible, and the story was so interesting that I was guessing the entire way through it of what might happen next. Pope dies, the movie starts from here and we are thrown right into this exciting world of Vatican politics and ancient tradition. It's so interesting because it combines those old customs with modern stuff, like you have to block the lasers so the paparazzi can't see inside or you have to take everyone's phones so you can keep the process secret. It’s like stepping into another world, but one that still has to contend with today.
- IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt20215234/
- Platform: AppleTV+
Rottentomatoes Rating
The whole selection process is based around Cardinal Lawrence played by Ralph Fiennes, to make things go to the extreme dramatic side of things, he himself has a crisis of faith. The movie does a great job showing us the inside of the Vatican, with all these gorgeous shots of the Sistine Chapel and other mind blowing places we don’t get to see, almost like they wanted you feel like you are right there sneaking around these ancient hallways listening to all of these secret conversations going on in corners and stairways. I really liked how the movie gets to be both a really good drama about faith and power, but also a great thriller that keeps you wondering what is going to happen next. Edward Berger, who also directed All Quiet on the Western Front, understands exactly how to put together these elements to make something that is both meaningful and entertaining, he tells this story of selecting a new pope as if it were a political thriller is intense enough, but with that extra element of spiritual meaning, creating a way more bigger impact on the topic.
Conclave is not just about picking a new pope, at its core it is about people, power and change, especially in the case of an institution as old and traditional as the Catholic Church. These themes is what brings the audience to the movie but probably only to divide them and make some take sides, and that’s probably why the movie surprised at the box office. I think people were ready for something thoughtful and well made that creates a big controversy, but still very entertaining.
Cardinal Lawrence is the main plot as he attempts to control this ridiculously complicated process of picking a new pope. The cardinals from all over the world come to the Vatican and you see right away the multiple factions become alive. On one side you have Cardinal Bellini, who is more progressive and on the other you have the super conservative Cardinal Tedesco who wants to turn back the clock. There’s Cardinal Tremblay, playing both sides like a your classic politician, and Cardinal Adeyemi who could be the first African pope. Things get even more complicated when a mysterious new cardinal, Cardinal Benitez, shows up out of nowhere, apparently appointed by the dead pope in secret. It started off with Lawrence figuring out all these secrets the previous pope was keeping and it just gets more interesting as it goes along, the discovery of the process and what was behind or left behind the Pope is whats keeping you wondering whats next? what hidden story or secrets that they don't know with every new revelation changes the dynamics between everyone involve in the process.
Cardinal Lawrence, played by Ralph Fiennes absolutely crushes it with how he plays a Cardinal in the middle of probably his most important event on his career only to start having second thoughts about his faith, bringing this perfect balance of duty and doubt to the role. The internal struggle you can really see as he tries to do what is right while dealing with his own faith issues, never looking too comfortable carrying the weight his responsibilities but never letting it stop him from doing his job, almost perfect.
The standout continues to be Stanley Tucci as Cardinal Bellini, this progressive cardinal who doesn't want to be pope, but feels he has to be, a kind of contradictory and confusing character who probably believes he is the only one that can solve this entire situation. John Lithgow gives this great political energy to Cardinal Tremblay and you wonder whose side he’s really on. Isabella Rossellini as Sister Agnes another character that has some weight to the story despite not having much screen time, she is a presence of pure energy and makes every single scene count, especially when she finally speaks up and silences a room of arguing cardinals. With so many characters and all of them with their own agenda is a bit confusing to follow up and try to understand all their perspective at once because this is a kind of royal rumble scenario when its all against all.
For the actors, I guess one of the most critical aspects and hard to bring up to their role is how they have to stay political, proper and religious all at the same time without loosing control of their expressions, the proper behavior you would expect from a Cardinal. In every conversation it seems, whether it’s someone openly discussing church politics or someone having conversation in the hallway they feel like they have to carry around meaning in their conversation.
The ending is what really got me and my wife discussing about it, after all the back room dealing and secret revelations, the elected Cardinal was born intersex, now days you might think that is ok, its very natural as I look it up it seems 1% of people born in US has the chance to be born intersex, meaning they might have either hormones or even reproductive systems that match both sides in certain aspects. Well here is where things go south for the commentary aspect because we talking about the Catholic Church traditional stance, but it works because the movie does such a great job of setting it up throughout. The reveal isn't there for shock value; it actually contributes to all the themes of movie change, tradition, what it really means to serve God and the Church. At least anyone who is not fully into traditional church is but then again what is a church without traditions that don't break, traditions are not meant to be broken or bend, see here comes the TSUNAMI of different opinions and why this movie turn out interesting in the first place.
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